St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-07-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, ~. Z. July ioth' 1901
The salutary effects of the lessons
taught by the recent exposure OF the
1ascalities of Bacon in the Patent
office, and Harvey in the Treasury, are
perceptible in many ways. The heads
.uf Bureaus are more diligent and vigl-
lent as well as exacting regarding the
methods of conducting the public
business, and the clerks appreciate the
state of affairs by increased activity
,s.nd thoroughness, id performing their
allotted tasks In all the Departments
there is an ill-concealed feeling OF APP
'prehenslon, not to say suspense, as to
what day may bring forth, and your
CORRESPONDENT feels safe in predicting
that the end is not yet, that Others IN
high places are covering in AFFECT fear
af an impartial investigation OF their
aloings, realizing that the result would
he ruinous to them. ] have good rea-
son to believe that general but quiet
examination of the accounts Of all dis
bursting officers is being made by di-
1cction of no less an authority than the
President himself.
Postmaster General Villas was partly
engaged this week in the much needed
work of revising the postal regulations,
which have not been amended since
1877. The Postmaster General also
found time to reply, in the negative to
1iIe letter of the postal clerk, asking
permission to hold a convention to dis
russ the needs of the service, and adj
vising them that the proper way to Sc
cure these aims and ends would be to
make such suggestions to tie Depart
lnent as might occur to them i'll the
practical performance OF their duties.
Up to the present this month, Govern
snent receipts amount to about S11 ,000-
600, and the expenditures, inclusive of
>12,OOO,OO0, in pensions, to 1885,, 10s,
making an enormous excess of dis
hursements over receipts. 1t is esti-
mated that the receipts for the balance
uf the month will be S1,000,000 day,
and that the expenditures will be fully
as large. The total amount of bonds
redeemed under the call, which ma
tured July 1st, is S1S,0O0,250, leaving
still outstanding of the call 81 $50, $3.50,
the whole amount of called bonds out
standing is $3,300,450. At present the
Treasury finds itself unable to supply
the heavy demand for notes of small
denominations, but orders have been
issued to do so as soon as practicable.
To prove that President Cleveland,
who has probably received more abuse
and adverse criticism from the soldiers
than any of his predecessors, is really
their best friend, having done better by
them than any other President, it is
only necessary to refer to the records
of the Pension Office. During the first
two years Of his term, President Cleve
land has approved 1868 private pension
bills, Gen. Grant in eight years, only
approved 485, Hayes in four years, BOB,
and Garfield and Arthur but 736 in the
same time. In addition to this, Presi-
dent Cleveland has approved three
general pension bills-March 10Th, 1886,
increasing to twelve dollars the pen
sions of 70, 767 widows, minors and de-
pendent relative of Union soldiers;
August 4th, 1886, increasing the pen
aions of 10,050, infirm and MANNED
Union soldiers Of the civil war from
1894 to $50, from $50 to 1856, and from
$50 to $3.50 to S45 per month. The
act of Jan. 27th, 1887, which has already
placed upon the pension rolls S,455 sur
vivors of the Mexican war and their
widows, add during the present fiscal
year that number will be increased at
least $4,000. The Pension Office records
beyond the shade Of
the assertion of Republican cor
respondents to the contrary notwith-
that 131, $50 more certificates |
of pensions were issued during the |
first two years of Democratic Admi-
alistration than during the last two |
years of Republican control And dur
ing the same time the sum distributed !
to PENSIONERS by the Democrats ex-
seeds by $16,617,0 s6,99 the amount dis
#ributed by the Republicans for the
same purpose and time. 1t is also sus-
ceptible of proof that in the matter of
s.ew names added to the pension list,
The Cleveland Administration is 15,4Os
names ahead of the last two years of
tue Republican regime Such strange
as these are sufficient to put
10 shame the Republican charge that
President Cleveland and the Democra
cy are unfriendly to the soldiers of this
Union.
The disbursing officers of the Treasu- !
~, were somewhat surprised the other
morning when duly authorized COM
niittee Of expert accountants called
unceremoniously to count their cash
and see if the books would balance.
similar action will be taken with all
iisbursing officers. Their accounts |
lave never been overhauled, and it will
,e q great wonder il much crooked /
ness in high places is not uncovered.